Wollongong: Wolfgang Cohen jailed after AFP child abuse investigation
An elderly Wollongong man is now behind bars after a failed attempt to meet a child for sexual acts led Australian Federal Police right to him and uncovered a twisted, secret stash.
Illawarra Star
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An elderly Wollongong man has been jailed after he was caught trying to plan a meeting with a child online to sexually assault them.
Mt Warrigal man Wolfgang Cohen, 70, faced the Wollongong District Court on Wednesday, where he was sentenced after the Australian Federal Police began investigating him in 2022.
A statement from the AFP said its probe into Cohen began after he was flagged stating in an online chat forum that he had a sexual attraction towards children and a desire to commit sexual offences against them.
He later made plans to meet another user – secretly an AFP officer – from the forum who allegedly had access to a child.
The statement said the officer tracked Cohen, who was arrested at his Mt Warrigal home as police searched the property.
A laptop, which was uncovered to contain child abuse material, was seized during the raid.
He was later charged with using a carriage service to groom a person to make it easier to procure a person under 26 to engage in a sexual activity, possessing child abuse material and transmitting child abuse material.
He pleaded guilty to all charges on October 8, 2024, and on Wednesday was sentenced to three years and four months jail, with a non parole period of 20 months.
He will be eligible for parole on February 25, 2026.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias said those who engaged in horrific crimes against children would be brought before the courts.
“We cannot send a clearer message to offenders – if you engage in these abhorrent activities, the AFP will find you, and you will face the full force of the law,” he said.
“Planning or engaging in activities that seek to harm children has no place in Australian society, and this investigation should serve as a warning.”
The AFP statement said it was “committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse”, with the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) driving a national approach to ending child abuse.
“The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
“Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now, or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
“If you, or someone you know, is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.”
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